according to new guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). In fact, although this particular age group is singled out, NICE's recommendations are intended to cover all women who are –- or who fear they are –- at particular risk

They include taking a family history in primary care to allow a woman's risk to be appropriately classified, and 'recognising that access to psychological support is a key part of the package of care'. Mammograms, for example, should only be carried out after giving information about the advantages and disadvantages. Measures such as genetic testing and risk reducing surgery are only appropriate for a small proportion of women, it says. NICE points out that most women with a family history of breast cancer do not fall into the high risk category.